Council’s call on £73m events centre
PLANS for the £73 million new Southport Marine Lake Events Centre plus a spectacular water and light show on Marine Lake - are due to be decided by Sefton Council.
The ambitious scheme, the central development of Southport Town Deal, will replace the former Southport Theatre and Convention Centre which closed in March 2020 and was subsequently deemed unfit to reopen due to a series of defects.
The new centre is estimated to attract over half a million visitors into Southport every year and generate £18 million for the local economy with a huge boost for Southport’s hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, guest houses and other local businesses.
It would create 290 gross direct on-site and off-site operational jobs.
The proposed new development would be a modern building comprising a 1,200 seat theatre (1,500 capacity seating standing), and a conference centre with a capacity of 2,400.
There would be associated offices and production facilities, meeting rooms, ticket office, cafe and restaurant and retail, plus food and drink concessions.
Externally there would be parking for 142 cars, and onstreet pick up and drop off points on the Promenade.
The proposed opening hours of the theatre are between 9am and 11pm, and the exhibition centre between 7am and 11pm.
A Water and Light Show is also proposed. The lighting would be positioned east of the south island in the Marine Lake.
The proposed building would have a net internal area of 9,571 sq metres. It would be orientated north-south, and separated into two component parts, the theatre / events auditorium in the south part of the building and the exhibition hall/convention centre in the northern part.
In the application, Sefton Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “The proposed development would make a significant contribution to the regeneration of the wider Southport area, increasing tourism and bringing with it substantial social and economic benefits not just to Southport but Sefton.”
The new building will be of “a modern design and high quality finish” that provides “a distinctive landmark building that would make a positive contribution to the site’s surroundings”.
There are huge economic benefits to the development.
It will create employment opportunities for the area.
It will also attract additional visitors to the town creating increased revenue for businesses - particularly important outside of the summer months when trade decreases.
The new Marine Lake Events Centre is also likely to trigger additional investment into the town.
In his report, Mr Mckenzie said: “This application seeks planning permission for the redevelopment of the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre site (Floral Hall) on the Promenade.
“The existing buildings are to be demolished and replaced with a new multifunctional theatre/events auditorium and exhibition/conference centre.
“The proposal also includes a water and light show within the adjacent Marine Lake.
“This area is identified in the Local Plan as priorities for regeneration within Sefton.
“The proposed development would make a significant contribution to the regeneration of the wider Southport area, increasing tourism and bringing with it substantial social and economic benefits not just to Southport but Sefton.
“The application site falls within the Promenade Conservation Area and there are numerous Listed buildings nearby. The new building would be larger and impact the open aspect of the Promenade and those Listed Buildings that once experienced it.
“The existing building is also a non-designated heritage asset which would be lost as part of the development. However, the proposals would cause less than substantial harm to these heritage assets, but such harm would be outweighed by the significant public benefits created by the development.”
To minimise impact on local residents during demolition and construction, mitigation measures will be used for noise, dust, lighting, piling, wheel cleaning, hours of construction, which will be controlled by a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).
Noise from the water and light show and music noise breakout from the internal events would be minimised through noise control zones and limits, along with appropriate building design.
Mr McKenzie wrote: “Vehicle access will be gained via an improved access on the Promenade at the existing roundabout junction with Seabank Road.
“Traffic impact assessment shows that the highway network would continue to operate within capacity, and the proposal would not result in significant highway safety issues.
“142 car parking spaces would be provided, which is acceptable given the site’s sustainable location and access to public transport.
“Satisfactory provision of disabled parking spaces, and a drop off areas for coaches and taxis would also be provided on Promenade.
“The new building would be of a modern design and high quality finish that is considered to respond positively to the character of the seaside location, providing for a distinctive landmark building that would make a positive contribution to the site’s surroundings.”
A recommendation has been made to approve the scheme at Sefton’s Planning Committee meeting on April 27.